Nick Cannon Exits ‘America’s Got Talent’

Nick Cannon’s has announced he is leaving his hosting position on NBC summer favorite “America’s Got Talent.” The comedian said on Facebook he was “deeply saddened” about being “threatened with termination by executives” after he made a racial joke about NBC on his recent Showtime stand-up special, “Stand Up, Don’t Shoot.”

“I was to be punished for a joke … My soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices. Not to get too detailed but this isn’t the first time executives have attempted to ‘put me in my place’ for so-called unruly actions,” wrote Cannon on Facebook. “I will not stand for it. My moral principles will easily walk away from the millions of dollars they hang over my head.”

Cannon joined “American’s Got Talent” as host in 2009 as the replacement for Jerry Springer. The original host was Regis Philbin in 2006. Production on the upcoming season 12 of “America’s Got Talent” is set to begin next month.

There is no word, meanwhile, on Cannon’s future as host of “Nick Cannon’s Caught on Camera” on NBC.